With no work amid lockdown, differently abled man yearns for help
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 08 2020: "Due to the lockdown, all the works have been put to a halt since March.

All my savings have been spent.

For the sake of people like us the lockdown should be lifted.

Government should also consider for people like us," said Moirangthem Kishorejit.

40-year-old Moirangthem Kishorejit, a resident of Kakching Phousupaat Leikai, is a differently abled person who earns his living as well as feed his family by working at a furniture workshop as a carver.

He lost his walking ability after he met with a road accident in 1995 .

Moirangthem Kishorejit, a resident of Kakching Phousupaat Leikai

He injured his spinal cord in the accident leaving him half paralyzed.

He has two siblings, a sister and a brother.

He is the eldest.

Both are married and like every other Manipuri family are also struggling to make ends meet.

Kishorejit married Rashirei much later after the accident and now has a son.

"She has always been a supportive partner.

Besides doing all the chores of the family she also carrying me to move around," Kishorejit said.

Kishorejit studied upto 9th standard at Kakching Higher Secondary School.

He works at Yambem Furniture shop at Kakching Phousupaat where he does carving on furniture.

He also makes shoes for ladies as his side business.

After sitting idle for nearly 10 years with nothing to do as he no longer can move around on his own after the accident, he was introduced to his wood carving work by Yambem Furniture proprietor Yambem Sheitya.

Yambem Sheitya seeing him sitting all day long offered him a job of carving the furniture.

On which he happily agreed and started the work.

He did not get any formal training, but learned the arts by watching it closely.

He said he learned shoe making by watching a friend who used to make ladies shoes for living.

Now his friend has moved on with other things but Kishorejit still continues.

However both his works are seasonal.

He said he earns a reasonable amount in shoe making during the 'Yaoshang' and 'Ningol Chakkouba' festivals but at other times he earns only two to three thousand in a month.

Furniture carving is also seasonal, he said while adding that during wedding season he earns quite a reasonable amount.

But life is not easy with this meagre income, he added.

He collects the raw materials for shoe making from Kakhulong in Paona Bazar Imphal, and the finished products are sold at Kakching Market.

He browsed the internet for design ideas and asked the wishes of the customers.

He said his sister and his wife also help him in the stitching works.

"I have not taken financial help from anyone and have earned my living by working sincerely.

But if the Government extends some help for people like me who want to work but does not have the finances, it would be of great help".

"I think the banks also do not want to give loans to differently abled people as they feel that we will not be able to pay back the loan" .

"Due to the lockdown, all the works have been put to a halt since March.

All my savings have been spent.

For the sake of people like us the lockdown should be lifted.

The Government should also consider for people like us," he added.